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The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision granting same-sex couples the right to marry in all of the U.S. states and unincorporated territories is another cause for celebration! Immigration law treated married same-sex spouses just the same as different-sex spouses. This included the right for a U.S. citizen to petition for a same-sex fiancé(e) abroad, petition to adjust status for a same-sex spouse to obtain a marriage based green card, and also for a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to petition for stepchildren created by a same-sex marriage. However, prior to the ruling that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, a same-sex couple sometimes had to travel to another state or country to marry. That potential hardship has now been removed, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents seeking to petition for a same-sex spouse may marry anywhere in the U.S.

“We came to America, either ourselves or in the persons of our ancestors, to better the ideals of men, to make them see finer things than they had seen before, to get rid of the things that divide and to make sure of the things that unite.” ~ Woodrow Wilson,

Immigration is not just a hot topic in the United States. All around the world, countries struggle with the balancing act of meeting the needs of both citizens and immigrants. In France earlier this month, government officials honored the heroic acts of 24-year-old Malian immigrant, Lassana Bathily. Mr. Bathily is credited with saving many lives during a terrorist attack on a kosher supermarket in January. Four were killed during the horrific ordeal.

Bathily was working at the kosher store on January 9 when Islamic extremist Amedy Coulibaly carried out his assault. Putting his own life at risk during the attack, Bathily helped customers by ushering them to safety, hidden in a back storage room. He not only saved their lives, but was able to escape himself and aid French police to end the attack. French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve along with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, honored Bathily with a medal and also granted him French citizenship. Cazeneuve praised Bathily’s bravery in saving the customers, and noted that it was an “act of humanity [which] has become a symbol of an Islam of peace and tolerance.” For his part, Bathily was humble about his actions and expressed his happiness at being granted dual citizenship.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status that may be granted to eligible nationals from certain designated countries.

Who Is Eligible for TPS?

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS when it is determined that:

There is an ongoing armed conflict within the state and, due to that conflict, return of nationals to that state would pose a serious threat to their personal safety;

The state has suffered an environmental disaster resulting in a substantial, temporary disruption of living conditions, the state is temporarily unable to handle adequately the return of its nationals, and the state has requested TPS designation; or

There exist other extraordinary and temporary conditions in the state that prevent nationals from returning in safety, unless the Secretary finds that permitting nationals of the state to remain temporarily is contrary to the national interest of the United States.

What does TPS mean to you?

If you are a TPS beneficiary, you will not be required to leave the United States. You may obtain work authorization during the initial time period of your stay in the U.S. under TPS, as well as for any TPS extensions. It is important to note that TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.

A TPS designation is effective for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 18 months. Before the end of the TPS designation period, the Secretary will review the conditions in the designated state and determine whether the conditions that led to the TPS designation continue to be met. TPS designations can be terminated or extended for 6, 12, or 18 months. If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the TPS for individuals from your country of origin is not necessary any longer and the status is terminated, you will return to the same immigration status that you held before entering into TPS.

It is important that you apply correctly for TPS if you are eligible and seek qualified legal counsel to ensure that you are taking the correct steps in your immigration journey.

Two years ago, President Obama set forth the guiding principles that should lead immigration reform. Although the Senate passed a bipartisan bill more than 500 days ago, the country has been waiting, and waiting… and waiting… for House Republicans to vote. The time has come for the President to issue executive actions and address some of the problems plaguing the immigration system.

Tomorrow night, President Obama will present new immigration law reforms instituted by his executive actions. There are high hopes that these executive actions will finally help fix our broken immigration system.

There are a number of helpful legal services available to abused immigrants. Often, when the abuser is a U.S. citizen, he or she may try to use the victim’s immigration status against him or her. Don’t let this happen to you if you are an immigrant who has been the victim of domestic violence or abuse!

We can offer you many types of assistance to aid you if you are being abused. We can help you assess your circumstances and if possible, we will offer you help in changing your situation. Our free initial consultation is confidential and private. We are both friendly and supportive of individuals in need of assistance. Don’t be afraid to call us today!

Every year, tens of thousands of United States Visas are issued to people who live overseas and are married or engaged to be married to an American Citizen. A U.S. visa allows them to move to the United States and be with their loved ones. There are a number of ways to obtain a U.S Visa to join your spouse or fiancé(e). If you are a foreign citizen and are engaged to a U.S. citizen, the most common way of coming to the U.S. is with a K-1 fiancé(e) Visa. For a foreign citizen spouse, there are several common ways to come the U.S., each with their own benefits. Below is a list of visas that can be obtained to bring a foreign fiancé(e) or spouse to the U.S.

Immigration options for a foreign fiancé(e) living overseas:

Fiancé(e) Visa K-1

Immigration options for a foreign spouse living overseas:

Spouse Visa K-3

Spouse Visa IR-1 or CR-1

Consular Processing

If you have any questions about obtaining a U.S. visa through your spouse or fiancé(e), call or email Your Immigration Angel for a free initial consultation. We can assist you today!